This new competition was created to teach 4-H members how to evaluate input costs and market value in order to estimate profitability and to teach 4-H members various marketing techniques to sell their products.
Criteria for Competition:
- Open to any registered 4-H NS member. (Livestock and Life Skills alike)
- Items must be non-perishable.
- It is not necessary for the item to be a project item submitted at Achievement Day. However, if it is a project item, it may be only entered in the project class or the Life Skills Market Competition at
county show. - The 4-H member must exhibit their brief, accurate, and concise marketing report which includes the following:
- Description and photo of the product.
- Include details that would make the product attractive to consumers. Members are encouraged to use this section to produce a marketing piece such as a print advertisement or social media post.
- Explain the steps you would take to sell the product.
- Where? Online or in person
- When? Seasonal or year round
- Promotion? Social media, advertising, word of mouth
- Profitability analysis.
- Include a complete list of expenses including labour, promotion, costs of selling, tools and materials to produce the product.
- Include samples of comparable products and establish the selling price.
- Evaluate the profit or loss of the item. Members are encouraged to expand on this section to evaluate if producing a larger quantity would be more profitable.
- Description and photo of the product.
Competition Levels
- County Show
- Life Skills Market Competition entries (item & report) must be presented at the county show for evaluation to be eligible to move on to 4-H Nova Scotia Provincial Show.
- There is no limit on the number of Life Skills Market Competition entries per county.
- Provincial Show
- How to Enter: A copy of your completed report from your county show must be submitted to 4-H NS via email to market@4hnovascotia.ca no later than September 1, 2023
- Eligible items will be submitted to the Life Skills project drop off at 4-H NS Provincial Show.
- Items must be dropped off between 1:00 and 3:00pm.
- The top 10 items will be part of the live Market Auction Friday evening.
- The remaining items will be placed in a silent auction. The silent auction will take place Saturday 8:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. High bidders can pay for and collect their item Saturday Night 6:00–7:00 P.M. (Members who do not wish to sell their item in the live and/or silent auction can indicate this on their report.)
